The most arrogant in history

Chapter 785: Reinstate the salt and iron tax.

Sang Buyi opposed Wen Axiu's suggestion:

"When the Emperor ascended the throne, he had already said that, apart from the 20% grain tax, no other taxes would be collected. If he collected an education tax now, wouldn't that be a breach of promise?"

Ma Zhao supported Sang Buyi: "What the Prime Minister said is very right. If this precedent is set, all kinds of exorbitant taxes will be imposed one after another. There will be taxes on wells, ironware transactions, meals, and drinking water."

Wen Axiu blushed: "Then just pretend I didn't say anything."

Ye Kun smiled and said, "Teacher Wen's suggestion is actually not wrong. It is also for the sake of the court. If everyone thinks it is not feasible, we can think of other ways."

Bao Sheng suddenly stood up and said, "I have a plan that can ensure the financial operation."

Ye Kun was a little surprised and said with a smile: "Tell me quickly, I'm all ears."

Bao Sheng nodded and looked at everyone:

"Our dynasty is powerful and invincible. Instead of collecting money from the people, it is better to go out and rob them. I suggest that we form a fast-moving force, launch a blitzkrieg, sneak attack the capital of the Parthian Empire, and plunder their wealth."

When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.

Sang Buyi was furious: "You are just a scholar, what nonsense are you talking about? How can you take war against another country lightly?"

Ma Zhao also sneered, "Bao Sheng, we are worried because we have no money to fight the war. But you want to attack the Parthian Empire at the same time. Isn't that making things worse?"

Ye Kun's eyes lit up, as if he was thinking about something.

"Everyone, listen to me."

Bao Sheng was very calm: "We only need 10,000 elite troops to rush through the Kemire Pass and directly attack the lair of the Parthian Empire. We have compressed biscuits, dry milk tablets and sugar, and canned dried meat. We only need to prepare one month's military supplies to win this battle.

Even, we only need to prepare seven days of dry food, because we have to fight all the way and survive by fighting. After we conquer the Parthian Empire, all the wealth will be ours.

After this battle, the Parthian Empire will be seriously injured and dying. In less than three to five years, we will destroy it. By then, we will have managed the Indian continent well. If we continue to expand westward and take over the territory of the Parthian Empire, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?"

The ministers of the nine ministries shook their heads repeatedly.

Everyone thinks it's just wishful thinking and empty talk.

Ye Kun suddenly stood up and said with a smile: "I think it is completely feasible. With our current military strength, we can indeed destroy the Parthian Empire by moving in and out quickly. Let Song Poliu and Xiahou Jun handle this matter!"

Song Poliu and Xiahou Jun are both very warlike.

Let them fight, that's fine.

Sang Buyi thought Ye Kun was crazy and glared at him, "Your Majesty, are you serious? The Parthian Empire has a population of tens of millions and a million troops. We have only 10,000 people going to fight them?"

"Ten thousand people is enough."

Ye Kun smiled and said, "The arsenal in Zhuo County now has 7,000 new guns, all of which are continuous-fire and powered by yellow gunpowder. There are more than one million rounds of ammunition, and there are also 600 new artillery pieces and more than 10,000 shells.

If this amount of firepower is deployed on the battlefield, even gods will be unable to stop it!"

He Tiantian said coldly: "This is just the inventory. Once the war breaks out, we will produce at full capacity and the output will increase several times. We also have machine guns that can fire hundreds of bullets a minute.

I don't know much about fighting, but I have seen the power of new guns and artillery.

I think if we had unlimited bullets, we would only need fifty people to sweep across the Parthian Empire."

Sang Buyi and others didn't dare to speak.

Qin Erwu stood up and shouted, "Your Majesty, I want to go on an expedition and personally destroy the Parthian Empire!"

"It's about robbing money, not destroying it."

Ye Kun frowned: "This batch of guns and cannons is extremely powerful and can change the world. Erwu, if you are willing to go to the battle, I will let you lead the troops yourself."

The new guns and artillery were too powerful, so Ye Kun did not dare to hand them all over to Xiahou Jun.

What if he gets guns and rebels?

Leave it to Qin Erwu, don't worry.

Qin Erwu laughed loudly: "Brother, give me the guns and cannons, I will lead the troops to set off right away!"

Ye Kun said: "Go to the test site first, bring your confidants, experience the new guns and learn the operation skills and accuracy. After ten days, prepare to march out."

"Order!"

Qin Erwu didn't attend the meeting and ran out limping.

Despite his age, he looks like a young man at this moment.

Ye Kun sighed: "I don't want to let go of a military commander like Er Wu. But state affairs are more important. For the sake of China's great cause, I have no choice but to make his old bones suffer a little more."

Sang Buyi still doubted Ye Kun's judgment: "Your Majesty, can such a blitzkrieg really work?"

"Nothing can go wrong." Ye Kun glanced at everyone:

"If you don't believe me, go to the Arsenal's test site and see for yourself how powerful our new guns are. Guns powered by yellow powder are ten times more powerful than those powered by black powder.

Our soldiers went to the battlefield like anteaters entering an ant nest, killing as many enemies as there were."

Ma Zhao smiled bitterly and said, "Given the emperor's temper, after we conquer the Parthian Empire, we will definitely have to immigrate there again. The more we expand overseas, the more immigrants we will have. If this continues, when will it end?"

"The earth is so small, there will always be an end."

Ye Kun rolled his eyes: "This time we raided the Parthian Empire to make money. We are not going to immigrate for the time being. Don't worry."

After the meeting, Ye Kun sent a telegram to Guan Bao, informing him of the current situation.

And my own situation.

Most of the nine ministers were opposed to further expansion and overseas immigration, which put Ye Kun under great pressure.

Only Guan Bao can get along with Ye Kun.

Guan Bao called back and comforted Ye Kun:

"Your Majesty, don't worry. Many people in the southeastern coastal areas of China are willing to voluntarily immigrate to Jiaozhi to become farmers. In the second half of last year, I received immigration requests from more than 700 households and more than 2,000 people, all of whom were sent to the Red River Delta in Jiaozhi...

Once we build Tianzhu well, more people will immigrate to Tianzhu.

In terms of finance and taxation, we can slightly increase the commercial tax on salt and iron and pass it on to the people. When people have pressure in their lives, they will be willing to immigrate.”

Ye Kun thought it made sense.

Domestic taxation has always been very relaxed, with a tax rate of 10% to 2%, but there are many tax-free and discounted items.

As people become wealthier and their lives improve, they are naturally unwilling to emigrate.

Another reason is that ordinary people are timid. They don't know what's going on outside and are afraid of encountering storms and accidents when going out to sea.

It just so happens that the court is in financial difficulty, so a slight increase in taxes isn't a big deal.

The next day, the meeting continued.

Ye Kun proposed increasing commercial taxes.

The prices of salt, iron, coal, and various imperial resources were slightly increased.

What we declare to the public is that resources have decreased, mining costs have increased, transportation costs have increased, and labor costs have increased.

Unexpectedly, Sang Buyi was the first to support Ye Kun's suggestion and said with a smile:

"Over the years, we have shared our wealth with the people, and the people still have money. I think it is feasible to slightly increase taxes and the prices of salt, iron and coal."

Ma Zhao frowned: "Does this mean that the salt and iron tax will be reinstituted?"